Mailbox: Pollsters respect the teams with tough opponents

Tell me, Mr. Paszko, was Ball State one of the best 1-4 teams in the country, as Ohio was at 0-4?

I am only to assume by your comment that the AP and coaches' polls are seriously overlooking these such dominating opponents the Rockets play. The last I knew, Marshall lost to Florida by 30-plus points - sure gave them all they could handle.

I wonder if Mr. Paszko understands that when a team such as Toledo plays a poor team like Ohio, that winning is not enough. They must win and be convincing in doing so. Teams such as Miami and Nebraska can afford to have a bad performance because their programs are respected, which is not the case for Toledo when it comes to the polls.

JAMES SCOTT

Maumee

Sports editor:

In response to the letter last Sunday, which asked in part “what is dumber than watching a pitcher be ..” - as an endorsement of the American League designated hitter rule - I would respond as follows:

1. What could be more ridiculous than playing by two sets of rules for interleague play and the World Series - pitchers batting in National League parks and designated hitters in AL stadiums? Perhaps your letter writer is a football fan, and would like to see four-point TDs in AFC home games and six points for NFC. Or, how about six-men teams for NBA Western Conference games and five-men sides for Eastern Conference? The lords of AL baseball gave in to the likes of the late Charley Finley (see donkey ball deliveries, clown-colored uniforms, etc.) Baseball was meant to be a game of strategy. Without the ability to use a DH for the pitcher, a manager must actually make some critical decisions.

2. I believe the only reason the DH remains in the AL is that the owners are afraid to confront the players union about the loss of some jobs. Simple solution - phase out DH players by keeping extra roster spots for some number of years, and let them pinch-hit.

Baseball is a great game because players for the last 100 years have played by essentially the same set of rules. Lose the DH for the good of the game.